Page:Machine-gun tactics (IA machineguntactic00appl).pdf/46

 aid of good glasses can observe fire on favourable ground up to 1,500. This observation of fire is the best method of obtaining the correct elevation at "effective" ranges (i.e. 1,400 to 600), if the ground is suitable. The procedure should be as follows: The range should be "estimated" by No. 1, who should then adjust his sight for 100 or 200 yards less elevation than the supposed distance, and fire "groups" of 8 or 10 shots; No. 2 observing the strike of the bullets and saying "short" or "over," as the case may be, while No. 1 alters the elevation between each group until No. 2 says "on," when fire may be continued, still observed by No. 2, until the desired effect has been attained. No. 1 must be careful to fire his first group of shots short of the target, as they are much easier to locate than shots which fall "over."

If the target is only visible for a short time, the groups may be "rapid," but as a rule "deliberate" fire at the quickest rate should be used, and "rapid" only used when the range has been found. If the ground is not favourable for the observation of fire, or the range is too great, this method cannot be used, and it will be necessary to obtain the range by instruments; but it will not always be possible to do so, and it is necessary to find some other reliable way of ensuring that the target is within the "effective" zone.

Supposing the range to be estimated at 1,400 yards, the effective zone is about 60 yards in